Look what they're doing to our town

The Wickford Master Plan began as a bold idea to regenerate a rather run-down rural Essex commuter town. The plan was to offer building plots to developers, and in return they would provide the amenities and other benefits to the town. 

Link to the 7 page Master Plan decision document on the Basildon council website

But look what is actually happening!

The mock-up above shows six blocks of flats approved for the town centre since the Master Plan was launched, a total of 351 flats! None of these offer any of the promised benefits, and most do not even provide improvements to the infrastructure to support themselves. So we get more traffic congestion and more demand on the already creaking support services – doctors, dentists, schools, overcrowded trains etc.

Will this be the legacy left behind by Malcolm Buckley, Basildon Council leader, and the rest of his team?